25 February 2011

Thank you to the 173rd Sky Angels Fund

Leta Carruth (r.) of the Sky Angels Fund presents MaryAnn Phillips with a generous donation of $2000.00 in support of the Soldiers' Angels Germany mission. Courtesy photo.

The 173rd Sky Angels Fund was created in 2008 to finance a welcome home celebration for the Vicenza-based brigade after their redeployment from Afghanistan that year.

Founders Terry and Cheryl Blaskowski, Gold Star parents of SFC Matthew Blaskowski, were later joined by Mike and Michelle Brennan, Gold Star Parents of SGT Joshua Brennan, and Craig & Kelly MacCorquodale, parents of SSG Ryan Pitts, who was wounded at the Battle of Wanat and medically retired from the Army, worked tirelessly to raise the funds required to achieve their goal, which included travel for the 173rd's wounded soldiers well enough to make the trip from the U.S. back to their respective Battalions in Italy and Germany at the end of OEF VIII.

Cheryl writes:

Since our 173rd Sky Angels have redeployed to Italy now from their third deployment to Afghanistan, and since the purpose of this Military Support ~ 173rd Sky Angels Fund was and is that the monies go 100% to directly support our troops and veterans, we are doing just that by sending you a check that might assist your organization in continuing to support our troops.

We wish to do this in memory of all the Sky Soldiers who were KIA and injured during their multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan.

On behalf of Soldiers' Angels and our Wounded Warriors at Landstuhl hospital, we'd like to express our deepest gratitude to Leta, the Blaskowskis, the Brennans, the MacCorquodales, and all of the Sky Angels Fund's supporters for their generous donation. Your sons and all of our Heroes of the 173rd will remain forever in our hearts. We are honored to continue our mission of caring for today's Wounded Warriors in their memory.